Himatnagar Voyage Tips and guide

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Himatnagar was founded in by Ahmad, shah of Gujarat Sultanate, who named it after himself. In 1912, the town was renamed Ahmednagar to Himatnagar after prince Himmat Singh by Sir Pratap Singh, the Maharaja of Idar.

Himatnagar is approximately 78 km from Ahmedabad.

• 23.59165572.9603581 Himatnagar Junction railway station (HMT). On the Ahmedabad–Udaipur line. It is served by trains from Asarva, Udaipur City, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Indore.  
• GSRTC Bus Depot.
• By car, it is just off NH 8 (Mumbai-Delhi highway).

Map of Himatnagar

• The white sandstone and cement walls of the old fort, though much ruined in parts, still surround the heart of town. The gateways, especially the Prantij or Ahmedabad gate, are specimens of Muslim architecture. The bastions are hollow the inside occupied by pillared rooms in two stories which take up so much space that the walls of the bastions are composed of single layers of stone.
• In the town, a small stone building, with richly carved bow windows, was once the residence of the Maharajas of Ahmednagar. There are also some interesting Jain temples.
• There is a well, known as the Kazi ni Vavdi, with inscriptions on the side walls, one in Arabic and the other in Devnagri, bearing respectively the dates 1417 (820 Hijri year) and 1522 (Samvat 1578). The second inscription shows that the well was built in 1522 by Shamsher-ul-Mulk, who is stated by tradition to have been a son of Sultan Ahmed Shah.
• The citadel or inner fort, known in Ahmedabad as the Bhadra, contains some very fine though ruined buildings, the principal lacing that traditionally known as the Mulla or Mohina Rani's palace. The windows of these buildings are very fine, of stone carved with the delicacy of lace.
• There are several wells hewn out of the solid rock, and, though dry, in good preservation.
• At some distance from the Bhadra and opening immediately on the Hathmati river, is the Idar gate. Close to it is a small mosque in perfect preservation, its windows worthy of notice, being each ornamented outside with a carved stone canopy while the frame is filled with carved stone work representing trees with foliage, through the interstices of which, a tempered light streams into the building. This mosque is said to have been built by Nasar-ul-Mulk, the eldest son of Sultan Ahmed Shah I.
• The Navlakha Kund, east of the small mosque, is an oblong hollow or pit about 100 feet broad and 500 feet long. At the foot of the flight of steps, which form one of the sides of the pit, is a stone basin, filled with water from a perennial spring and with stone cloisters round three of its sides. At the back of the west cloister is a ladies' gallery hidden from sight by carved open stone screens. On the south side is a building with a stone canopy intended for the king or chief man of the place, who during the heat of the day came with his ladies to enjoy this cool retreat. The cloister on the north has disappeared, but the others, in fair preservation, are fine specimens of architecture. Tradition ascribes the work to Taj-ul-Mulk, another of the sons of Sultan Ahmed.
• Close to this place are the remains of buildings said to have been stables or cavalry lines. At one side of these, large arched doorways, now built up, led to an outwork facing the north, and immediately over the river, which was evidently at one time covered with a pillared roof. This was probably a place of resort, being cool, except at noon-day, and commanding a fine view of the Idar hills.
• Not far from the stables, a gateway opens on the road to the river. On the other side of the road three domed and pillared cupolas, chhatris mark the spots where the remains of the Maharajas of Ahmedabad were cremated.
• Maharaja Himmat Singh Fort, on the banks of river Hathmati and Daulat Vilas Palace in Mahavirnagar area are two remaining palaces.
• There are several religious places including Dargah of Hazrat Hasan Shaheed, Dargah of Hazrat Chand Shaheed, Vaktapur Hanuman Temple, Jain Temple like shri 1008 Chandraprabhu Digambar Jain Temple (one of the ancient Temple in city), shri 1008 Shantinath Digambar Jain Temple, Sai Temple, Jalaram Temple, Panchdev Temple, Mahakali Temple, Prannathji Temple, Harshidhmata Temple, Swaminaryan Temple, Ganpathi Temple, Gayatri Temple, Bholeswar Temple, several Jain Temples and Juma Mosque and several others. Swaminarayan temple is constructed on the national highway enriched with architectural values.

• 23.66361872.9609081 Mini Pavagadh, Vaktapur village (8 km from Himatnagar). A 300-year-old temple dedicated to Mahakali is popular in pilgrims. Fairs are organised on Janmashtami and Mahashivaratri. Free. 
• 23.65903273.0830522 Roda Group of Temples (Temples at Khed and Roda), Near Raisinghpura (Roda) village (18 km from Himatnagar on Khed-Tasiya Road). Seven Hindu temples built during Gurjara-Pratihara or Rashtrakuta period (8th-9th century). Considered as the fountainhead of all classical temples of Gujarat. Free.  

Wide range of festivals are celebrated in the town.

• Kite festival, popularly known as Uttarayan, on 14 and 15 January.
• Navratri with people performing Garba, the most popular folk dance of Gujarat.
• The festival of lights, Deepavali or Diwali, celebrated with the lighting of lamps in every house, decorating the floors with Rangoli, and the lighting of firecrackers.
• Other religious festivals such as Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, the day of Ashurah Muharram, the birthday of prophet Eid-E-Milaad, Eid-Ul-Adha, Eid ul-Fitr, Paryushana, Mahavir jayanti, Daslakshana and kshamavani are also celebrated.

There is an amusement park on bypass link from Motiputa cross road to Vijapur highway.

Himatnagar is known for its unique tasting Daal-Baati and Panipuri. Basic meal served in Himatnagar is Gujarati thali, that includes dal, rice or bhat, rotli and shaak (cooked vegetables and curry) with accompaniments of pickles and roasted papads. Beverages, such as buttermilk and sweet dishes include laddoo, doodhpak and vedhmi.

Most restaurants serve a wide array of Indian and International food. Traditionally vegetarian food is consumed by Jain and Hindu communities because of religious beliefs. Therefore, most restaurants serve only vegetarian food.